The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-10-11

people say, although, when we see it
denied that there was such man as
Shakespeare, and that there was such
structure as the Great Wall of
China, it is not safe to be too positive
about Rome. However, the good old
saying wears we'll to illustrate the
unwisdom of impotence at the pro-
gress of any useful work There are
those in this community who seem to
need lecture against that weakness,
and if the Bulletin was in a proper
frame of mind we should nominate it
as the orator of the occasion.
A great constitutional reform has
been gained in this Kingdom. Sew
eral distinct rights and privileges
have been conferred on the people,
which they have hoped for as things
viewed far off. Certainly they were
remote in prospect had the regular
means available been depended upon
for the overthrow of abuses and the
Inauguration of new basis of gov
eminent. Chief among the constitu-
tiOnal benefits referred to are the
change from virtually absolute to
limited monarchy, and the establish
ment IN the fundamental law of the
principles of independent legislation.
These and other important provisions
OF the Constitution of Kalakaua con-
stitute the Reform that Hawaii has
obtained by the recent revolution.
The upsetting of the Gibson Min
istry and installation of new one
under the old Constitution might
have been great improvement, but
1t would have given but little promise
OF progressive and permanent re-
form. Constitutional reform such as
that gained in Hawai- is valuable
chiefly as making administrative re-
form possible. There were circum-
stances connected with the Inaugural
ton of the constitutional reform,
moreover, which make administrative
reform imperative upon those to
whom affairs are entrusted. A Legis-
lature has been elected which is
thoroughly committed to enforcing
the principles of administrative re
form, as well as maintaining intact
the constitutional provisions that
make reformed government feasible.
These are the facts that give us con
fdence in the new order of things,
and not merely the character and
capabilities of the Ministry of the
day. 1t was this central idea
of the popular liberties conveyed
through the new Constitution
which made us as partisan as we
could be in the late election cam
paign. This is why we regarded with
SO much bitterness the course taken
in that struggle by some people, who,
while they had been seemingly as
earnest as any in agitating for this
fundamental reform, could, when that
lnestimably great boon was at stake,
be induced to help its enemies. This
class did so both by neglectlng to
keep the main issue in view and by
attacking its friends and supporters
upon points of mere detail in the adj
mlnlstration of affairs, also in reference
to things that were done and said in
the period of overweight excite
ment at the elimination of the revo-
lutlonary movement. Although we
should regard it as folly to claim that
the new Constitution was perfect, yet |
we believe that it was the part of
wisdom. for all who regarded that in
strument as placing the country in
vital respects far in advance of its
former position, to consider the com
paratlvely minor details of the funda-
dental law as ground that should not
be debatable for the present. 1t was
an equally wise desire that fortu-
nately prevailed to secure unanimity.
among those who favored the prin-
clpal reforms, in the selection of
candidates to carry the standard
OF the new Constitution before the
electors. These two lines of pol
icy were absolutely essential in order
to insure the holding fast of the
advantages already attained. Call
the hrst narrow and the second ma
chime politics -" who may, yet nothing
else saved the country from danger Of
falling back into the pit from which
1t had so happily emerged. The dual
lhcauons OF members of the Ministry
and OF all who serve the country un-
der them are at any time matters of
great Importance A question of CON
5tltutlonal change in radical degree
is, however, of immeasurably greater
moment. For this reason it would
have been preferable that the Reform
party IN the late contest should have
kept the particular Ministry of the
time out OF their platform, as how
ever worthy its members are to
make a stand for at the polls. the
main issue of the struggle con
eerned the administrations of the
future as much as this one. How
ever, as this Ministry was identified
With the inauguration of the new
Constitution, and support of it made
principle OF the supporters of that
instrument. it was a patriotic duty to
stand by that plank with all the
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